Is my parakeet sick if its feathers are smooth and tight to its body?

Stress and diet can both contribute to feather health and coloring. As long as your bird is behaving normally otherwise, there is likely no cause for concern. Monitor for lethargy, loss of appetite, loose droppings or excessive feather loss (not due to molting). These are symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian or an experienced avian veterinarian.

Hi! Tiki is adorable! Congratulations on your new pet. Birds are often fluffed when they don’t feel well but they can also be fluffed if they’re cold or tired. If he’s eating and acting fine, evaluate the temperature in the room and presence of any drafts. If he is quieter, or has any change in appetite, defecation or activity, see a veterinarian without delay as birds can become seriously ill quickly. Regardless, I would recommend taki Tiki to a veterinarian for a new pet exam. This will establish a relationship with a local vet, create a baseline of health data for Tiki, and give you the opportunity to ask any ther questions you may have about Tiki and his care. Good luck!

Hi, what you are describing does sound like signs of illness. Kiwi could have an infection or other disease and it is important to have him evaluated by a veterinarian. They can do an exam and any tests that are needed to determine the best treatment. Birds do get sick quickly and tend to hide symptoms, so you are right to be concerned about these changes. Good luck.

If he is always fluffed up or otherwise listless, this can be a sign that he isn't feeling very well, and an exam from your vet is always a good idea. As for the pottying, birds tend to just go wherever they are (some can be trained not to), and so if he's perching on the food and water, he is likely to go there. Adding in some perches similar to the dishes may encourage him to perch there instead, or simply getting dishes that are more of a silo instead of a bowl can prevent stool from getting in them. Daily cleaning of all dishes will also help with any stool that gets in them.

In the second image, she definitely looks unthrifty and ill. Without a physical exam though, it is difficult to say for sure what is going on with her. If you can, transition from an all seed diet to a pelleted diet which is more balanced. Brands include Harrison's, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or KayTee Exact. You can still offer a small amount of a fortified seed mix as well as fresh fruits and vegetables to round out the diet.

As long as Lord is behaving normally otherwise, there is likely no cause for concern. Should he stop eating, become lethargic or develops loose droppings, then he should be examined by your veterinarian or by a vet experienced in treating birds.

Thanks for reaching out about Sky and including photos. Birds are typically fluffed when cold or ill. A veterinary visit is recommended, sooner than later. Providing heat support can give some aid but is not a cure for illness. As a new bird, moving to a new home can be stressful for a young animal, and suppressing the immune system, allowing subclinical infections to manifest. Good luck.